Americanism is a question of principle, of idealism, of character. It is not a matter of birthplace, or creed, or line of descent.
Theodore RooseveltRead
Probably the greatest harm done by vast wealth is the harm that we of moderate means do ourselves when we let the vices of envy and hatred enter deep into our own natures.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Wealth can lead to negative feelings like envy and hatred, which harm those who experience them more than the wealthy themselves.
In this quote, Theodore Roosevelt reflects on the corrosive effects of envy and hatred that moderate means individuals may feel towards those with vast wealth. He suggests that it is not the wealth itself that causes harm, but rather the negative emotions that arise in response to it, which can deeply impact personal character and well-being. This statement encourages a deeper understanding of how our emotions can affect our lives, pushing us to rise above feelings of jealousy and resentment.
Themes
WealthEnvyHatredCharacterModerate Means
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be shared in a discussion about the negative impacts of wealth inequality on society.
More from Theodore Roosevelt
All quotes →It tires me to talk to rich men. You expect a man of millions, the head of a great industry, to be a man worthhearing; but as a rule they don't know anything outside their own business.
Theodore RooseveltRead
No man should receive a dollar unless that dollar has been fairly earned.
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Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.
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Conservation means development as much as it does protection._x000D_ _x000D_ A man's usefulness depends upon his living up to his ideals insofar as he can.
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It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; . . . who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.
Theodore RooseveltRead
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